When people think of the Animal Services Unit at UVic, they think of Ralph Scheurle.

For 38 years, he devoted his career to the growth and improvement of the unit and went the extra mile in his work and his interactions with other members of the university community.

“Ralph has been a key part of the growth of the research mission at UVic, responding to the requirements of faculty in providing high quality infrastructure support,” says Rachael Scarth, Associate Vice-President Research Operations at UVic.

Ralph consistently focused on the goal of providing high quality services to UVic faculty while ensuring the highest standards of animal care and the best possible working conditions for staff.

During his career, Ralph provided support and mentoring for students, faculty and staff while supervising a large staff with diverse responsibilities in animal care. He was also instrumental in coordinating the design and construction of several campus facilities. From design through start-up, Ralph collaborated with architects, trades people, suppliers and other UVic staff to ensure the successful completion of this state-of-the-art facility.